Bachelor of Science Early Childhood Education (BS)
Jody Sommerfeldt, Undergraduate Program Director
The BS in Early Childhood Education draws courses from across the University to prepare teacher candidates interested in teaching early childhood education. Course work spans the disciplines of English literature and composition; history; fine and performing arts; mathematics; natural sciences; social sciences; human growth and development; and educational foundations, technology, assessment, theory, and methods. The broad curriculum, along with the admittance, continuance, and graduation requirements described below, prepares teacher candidates to meet state license standards for the Commonwealth of Virginia, including a passing scores on the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (Test #5205). Core coursework is available in both online and face-to-face formats. Additional information is posted on the department's website or available in hard copy from the department.
Please note: Admissions beyond Fall 2025 is on hold for program review.
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | 6 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Language and Culture | 0-6 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| The Nature of Science | 8 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
Written Communication: ENGL 110C and ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C; Departmental requirement for all teacher candidates, not met by the associate degree.
Mathematics: MATH 102M or MATH 103M; Departmental requirement for all teacher candidates, not met by the associate degree.
Information Literacy and Research: met in the major with LIBS 110G
Interpreting the Past: HIST 104H required; Departmental requirement for all teacher candidates, not met by the associate degree.
Human Behavior: PSYC 203S required; Departmental requirement for all teacher candidates, not met by the associate degree.
Nature of Science: Select one from BIOL 105N, BIOL 106N, BIOL 110N/BIOL 111N, BIOL 112N/BIOL 113N, BIOL 117N/BIOL 118N, BIOL 121N/BIOL 122N and one from PHYS 101N, CHEM 105N/CHEM 106N; Departmental requirement for all teacher candidates, not met by the associate degree.
Impact of Technology: met in the major
Upper-Division General Education
Satisfied in the major.
Requirements for Graduation
To graduate, teacher candidates must:
- Complete all program requirements.
- Earn a grade of no less than C- in all departmental requirements (C in ENGL 110C and ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C), major courses, and core courses.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and 2.75 core and major GPA.
- Pass the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or higher.
- Complete the Senior Assessment Survey.
- Submit a professional portfolio according to Darden College of Education and Professional Studies and program requirements.
NOTE: All students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for the Baccalaureate degree, which must include both a minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours in upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
Licensure requirements also include certificate of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, and Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training.
Due to changing University requirements, national accreditation standards, and Commonwealth of Virginia licensure regulations, the programs in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in this catalog. Students should obtain current program information from their advisors and the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies website at https://www.odu.edu/eps.
Early Childhood Education Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Complete lower-division requirements | 35-41 | |
| Complete upper-division requirements (met in the major) | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| TLED 301 | Foundations and Introduction to Assessment of Education * | 3 |
| SPED 400 | Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics | 3 |
| SPED 411 | Classroom and Behavioral Management Techniques for Students with Diverse Needs | 3 |
| FOUN 301 | Learning and Development | 3 |
| FOUN 302 | Assessment of Learning | 3 |
| TLED 326 | Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Education | 3 |
| TLED 426 | Introduction to Literacy, Linguistics and Practice in the Classroom | 3 |
| TLED 430W | PK-12 Instructional Technology (C or better required; satisfies Impact of Technology requirement) | 3 |
| Major Courses | ||
| GEOG 100S | Human Geography | 3 |
| LIBS 110G | Information Literacy for the Digital Age | 3 |
| STAT 130M | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| HPE 327 | Teaching of Health and Physical Education, Pre-K-8 | 3 |
| MATH 302 | Geometry | 3 |
| TLED 320 | Perspectives on the Young Child and the Family | 3 |
| TLED 328 | Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood | 3 |
| TLED 330 | The Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 |
| TLED 337 | Literature for Young Children | 3 |
| TLED 338 | Integrated Methods & Curriculum in Early Childhood Ed: Birth-Pre-K | 4 |
| TLED 483 | Seminar in Teacher Education ** | 1 |
| TLED 487 | Teacher Candidate Internship for Early Childhood Education ** | 12 |
| TLED 492 | Integrating Instruction: Mathematics and Science Across the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| TLED 493 | Integrating Literacy and Social Studies Across the PreK - 3 Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 109-115 | |
- *
LiveText is required for all Teacher Education majors and minors upon registration for TLED 301.
- **
A passing score on the Reading for Virginia Educators Assessment is required in TLED 483 and prior to TLED 487.
Additional Requirements and Information
Declaration of Major
To declare the major, teacher candidates must have a C or better in ENGL 110C and meet with an advisor in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
Prescribed Virginia Board of Education Assessment for Admission to an Approved Teacher Education Program
Old Dominion University students seeking admission to an approved teacher education program must satisfy the Virginia Board of Education required assessment for admission into an approved teacher education program.
For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education admission assessment, visit the Virginia Department of Education at https://www.doe.virginia.gov/.
Admission to Undergraduate Teacher Education Program
All teacher candidates must be admitted to the Early Childhood Education program as a requirement of continuance and graduation. Admittance to the early childhood education program requires that the teacher candidate:
- Be a declared BS in early childhood education student.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75.
- Have a 2.75 GPA in core and major courses.
- Have no grade below a C- in any course required in the program.
- Submit an application for admittance that is approved by the program and the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
Additionally, teacher candidates should be admitted to the early childhood education program by the end of their 60th credit hour. Transfer students with 60 or more credits should be admitted to the early childhood education program by the end of their second semester enrolled at the University.
Continuance
Teacher candidates must:
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and 2.75 core and major GPA.
- Earn a grade no less than C- in all departmental requirements, major courses, and core courses.
- Successfully complete a background clearance check.
Background Clearance Requirement
Old Dominion University requires a background clearance check of candidates interested in professional education programs. Professional education programs have several field experiences that are required for continuance and graduation from the program. The background clearance must be successfully completed prior to a field experience placement. The process to complete the ODU clearance background check is located at: http://www.odu.edu/success/academic/teacher-education/placement/background-checks. The ODU clearance process includes the FBI fingerprint SP-24 form, the child protective service/social service check, and the sexual offender registry check. Candidates interested in professional education programs are advised to complete this clearance process immediately upon entry since the clearance process takes a minimum of eight weeks to complete. Please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at 757-683-3348 with any questions.
Teacher candidates who fail to meet program requirements for two consecutive semesters will be encouraged to consider other academic and professional goals.
Additionally, passing scores on the Praxis Multiple Subject Assessment for Elementary Education and Praxis Teaching Reading are required in TLED 483 and prior to TLED 487. Test results will be submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences. All teacher candidates must consult with an academic advisor every semester to review their academic progress.
Degree Program Guide
The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years. It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor. Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (C or better required) | 3 |
| MATH 102M or MATH 103M |
College Algebra (C or better required) or College Algebra with Supplemental Instruction |
3 |
| HIST 104H | Interpreting the American Past (C- or better required) | 3 |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| BIOL 105N | Biology for Nonscience Majors I (preferred) (C- or better required) | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C |
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research (C or better required) or Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
3 |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| PSYC 203S | Lifespan Development (C- or better required) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| FOUN 301 | Learning and Development (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 326 | Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Education (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 301 | Foundations and Introduction to Assessment of Education (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 430W | PK-12 Instructional Technology (meets Impact of Technology; C or better required) | 3 |
| PHYS 101N | Conceptual Physics (preferred) (C- or better required) | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 100S | Human Geography (C- or better required) | 3 |
| FOUN 302 | Assessment of Learning (C- or better required)) | 3 |
| TLED 330 | The Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 320 | Perspectives on the Young Child and the Family (C- or better required) | 3 |
| STAT 130M | Elementary Statistics (C- or better required) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| TLED 338 | Integrated Methods & Curriculum in Early Childhood Ed: Birth-Pre-K (C- or better required) | 4 |
| SPED 400 | Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 328 | Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood (C- or better required) | 3 |
| MATH 302 | Geometry (C- or better required) | 3 |
| Elective (or Language and Culture if required) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| TLED 492 | Integrating Instruction: Mathematics and Science Across the Early Childhood Curriculum (C- or better required) | 3 |
| HPE 327 | Teaching of Health and Physical Education, Pre-K-8 (C- or better required) | 3 |
| LIBS 110G | Information Literacy for the Digital Age (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 337 | Literature for Young Children (C- or better required) | 3 |
| Elective (or Language and Culture if required) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| TLED 493 | Integrating Literacy and Social Studies Across the PreK - 3 Curriculum (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 426 | Introduction to Literacy, Linguistics and Practice in the Classroom (C- or better required) | 3 |
| SPED 411 | Classroom and Behavioral Management Techniques for Students with Diverse Needs (C- or better required) | 3 |
| TLED 483 | Seminar in Teacher Education | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| TLED 487 | Teacher Candidate Internship for Early Childhood Education (C- or better required) | 12 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
BA or BS to MBA (Master of Business Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MBA or BS/MBA program is an early entry to the MBA program of study. The early-entry program is designed for well qualified non-business undergraduate ODU students to start their MBA program prior to completing their undergraduate degree. Well qualified non-business undergraduate students may take MBA-level courses as early as three semesters prior to graduation and count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students participating in the early-entry program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Early-entry program students should carefully consider their undergraduate degree program requirements when planning their course of study. Students in the early-entry program work in close consultation with the MBA Program Office and should refer to information in the Strome College of Business section in the graduate catalog to develop an individualized plan of study based on the required coursework.
BA or BS to MPA (Master of Public Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MPA or BS/MPA program provides qualified Old Dominion University undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking credits in the MPA program as an undergraduate student. The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to immediately continue their education after the bachelor's degree. The program is especially relevant to individuals seeking to work (or currently working) in the public or non-profit sectors, but is suitable for students from any undergraduate major. Graduate courses may be taken during the fall and spring semester of the student's senior undergraduate year. Up to 12 graduate credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree and can meet upper-level General Education requirements. After receiving the undergraduate degree, a student will continue with the MPA program, taking MPA courses until completing the required 39 credit hours. Students in the linked program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree).
Requirements for admission to the graduate program can be found in the School of Public Service section of the Graduate Catalog. For additional information, please contact the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business.